A Nana By Any Other Name…

Strega Nona

Fictional character “Strega Nona” is a “grandmother witch” – but in a good way, if you like lotsa pasta.

People who know me well know that I frequently begin a sentence with, “I have a cousin who…”

I have a cousin for every occasion because I have a lot of cousins. Thirty-one on the Irish Catholic side, and that’s just in my generation. Now they have children and grandchildren, and no one knows for sure how many of us there are or what kind of algorithm could produce a sum total. You can imagine what the family reunions are like. Or maybe you can’t. Imagine a convention where everyone is singing and hugging.

This means my grandmother had 32 grandchildren.

Continue reading

Please Chew the Jewelry

The cat's not included. He just wanted you to know how handsome he is.

The cat’s not included. He just wanted you to know how handsome he is.

You know how little ones love to do a trapeze act on your jewelry?

One of my most fortunate Nana discoveries has been these necklaces made from food grade silicone. The baby can chew on them without harm (in fact, it helps with teething), and if she tugs too hard, the break away catch releases the strand. And saves you from strangling. It’s an instant toy you can wear around your neck! I have mine on whenever I watch my grandson, and if I need to give him a distraction for a second, I just pop off my beads and dangle them in front of him.

You can purchase these in the baby box stores for around $30, but I got my lovely purple set on Etsy for around $17. Look hard enough, and you’ll probably find cheaper.

Spoiler alert: my daughter and her mother-in-law will find these in their stockings this Christmas!

 

No More Nervous Noggin

Rae in Indianapolis shared this tip on helping a baby relax through scalp massage.

Babies love their scalps to be rubbed. Do be careful around the soft spots – like on the top of the head, at the temples and at the occipital areas. Watch your baby’s response to the massage and use gentle fingertip pressure in a circular motion. Oil is not necessary on the head. Position your baby’s head in a face-to-face position and watch your baby smile.

More info on Storknet:

Nana:

My daughter’s dad used to do something similar to put her to sleep. He stroked the spot on her forehead between her eyebrows using a fingertip, moving from nose to hairline. It worked on the dog, too!

Celtic Bagel

Rae’s Celtic Bagel 

Displaying IMG_2917.JPG

The Celtic Bagel

Rae’s multitalented, and a good gal to have in your corner. Like me, she has Irish roots, but married a Jewish man. What better way to celebrate both cultures than with a Celtic Bagel?

 

Puppy Pads for Poopy Pants

Sometimes you find yourself overwhelmed at the changing table. How did allllll that poop came out of one little person? How do you keep it from going everywhere?

This tip comes from Grammie Deb, in Iowa

Put a puppy pad on your changing surface so all the mess can be collected for disposal. Also carry them in the diaper bag for a clean surface away from home.

Nana:
Deb adds that during the potty training phase a puppy pad can be placed in the car seat “just in case.”

It’s Good To Be the Crone!

 

maidenmothercrone

The image of the Maiden/Mother/Crone is ancient,

and its origins are unclear. Egyptian? Celtic? A reflection of the phases of the moon and the female cycle? Reportedly, the Celtic triskele was a pagan symbol representing the three-faced goddess: the young virgin, the fruitful mother, and the wise grandmother. Until Christian missionaries appropriated the symbol to represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Ah, well.

Wicca, Neo-Paganism, and New Age practices still recognize the three-faced goddess in the triskele. I am of Celtic descent and a practicing Catholic, so I’m good with either story. Please enjoy the elegant triskele at upper left and celebrate it as you will, if for no other reason than its lovely geometry. My intention is neither to justify nor debate religious symbols, but rather to apply the symbolic phases of a woman’s life to…well, real life.

In other words, what does it mean to be an old lady in America?

Continue reading

Fold a Shirt like a Ninja

Packing to visit the grandkids? Climb Machu Picchu? Climb Machu Picchu with the grandkids? Okay, you’e just doing the laundry. This will blow your mind. And you thought you’d never do anything with geometry after high school!

DaveHax has more tips on his YouTube channel.

 

Nana Hacks!

Short cuts and life savers for grandmothers and care givers. 

What’s your go-to activity, your favorite website, your now-I-see-the-light instructional video? Let’s get networked! Send your suggestions by clicking here to access the Talk to Nana page, or send an e-mail to kate@tattooednana.com. Scroll down or click here to go directly to the helpful hacks already posted.